A message from Bishop Haynes
When those who were around him [Jesus] saw what was coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:49-51)
When Judas came to betray Jesus, the disciples who surrounded him knew of no other way to respond than with violence. So Peter struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Jesus, however, had a vision of a new way of responding. He declared that violence was not the answer and reached out with a healing touch to repair the damage inflicted by the violence.
This way of responding without violence was also the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “In spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.” King envisioned a world that hinged on community, harmony and unity; nonviolence, in his view, was the only way to effect such a community: “We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end is a community at peace with itself. We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts.” Words and actions of peace were the goal.
On the anniversary of his birth, we honor the memory of this man who was a great leader in the civil rights movement but who also appears on the church’s calendar of saints. We dedicate ourselves to his dream that we all become beloved community. And we endeavor to do these things, not through violence which might seem a natural response, but through peace and non-violent actions.
The Episcopal Church is launching a new campaign on Martin Luther King’s birthday. The campaign is a conversation called “From Many One: Conversations Across Difference.” The initiative comes from the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum (from many, one) and hopes to teach, model and foster conversations with those who think differently from us. The conversation starts with the following four questions:
1. What do you love?
2. What have you lost?
3. Where does it hurt?
4. What do you dream?
You can find out more about the “From Many, One: Conversations Across Difference” here.
It is my hope that churches will use this resource as a way to begin conversation within their own “walls.” (I use this term figuratively since I realize that for the moment we are mostly in Zoom rooms or conference calls.)
Until such time as this conversation launches, it might also be helpful to ask ourselves the following questions:
· Are our actions aimed at peace or destruction?
· Do our words and actions comport peace or are they intended to inflict wounds?
· Whose ear are we cutting off?
· Whose ear are we being presented with the opportunity to heal, and are we accepting the grace of God to respond?
Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
